Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Drawing Blood from Rats through the Saphenous Vein and by Cardiac Puncture
Published on: August 23, 2007
Venepuncture is preferable to heel lance for blood sampling in term neonates
S Ogawa1, T Ogihara, E Fujiwara
1Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7, Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan. ped025@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
Background:
The analgesic effect of oral sucrose in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures is generally accepted. For blood sampling, some studies have shown that venepuncture (VP) is less painful than heel lance (HL).
Objective:
To determine the least painful and most effective method among blood sampling by VP or HL with or without sucrose.
Design:
Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
Subjects:
A total of 100 healthy, full term newborn infants being screened for inborn errors of metabolism were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups (25 infants in each). Intervention and
Outcome Measure:
Seven specially trained nurses took turns to carry out blood sampling two minutes after administration of oral sucrose or water. Neonatal pain was assessed by the neonatal facial coding system (NFCS), as well as by crying.
Results:
Without sucrose, the NFCS score was higher in the HL group than the VP group during blood sampling (median 58 v 23, p<0.001). Oral sucrose significantly reduced the score of the HL group (58 v 47, p<0.01) and also tended to reduce the score of the VP group (23 v 2, p<0.1). However, the HL with sucrose group still had a higher score than the VP without sucrose group (47 v 23, p<0.01). Crying and the total procedure time showed the same trends as the NFCS score.
Conclusions:
VP is less painful and more effective than HL for blood sampling in newborn infants. Although oral sucrose may have an additive analgesic effect, it is not necessarily required if VP is used for blood sampling.
Related Concept Videos
Temperature Measurement Sites
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
Sites for measuring blood pressure
The Brachial Artery: Primary Site for Blood Pressure Measurement
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...
Veins of Lower Limbs
Formed by the union of the medial and lateral plantar veins, the posterior tibial vein, rising through the calf muscle, assimilates the fibular vein. The anterior tibial vein, a superior extension of the foot's dorsalis pedis vein, merges with the posterior tibial vein at the knee,...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Hemodialysis I: Introduction

